Device and method for self-adjusting an electrical threshold for detecting a power failure

ABSTRACT

A device for self-adjusting an electrical threshold includes a framing unit that compares a setpoint signal representative of the supply signal to a plurality of successive intervals of reference signals that increase in value according to a geometric sequence. The framing unit generates an output based on the interval bounding the setpoint signal, wherein the output controls a switch that is configured to provide one of the plurality of reference signals as an output, wherein the output reference signal is representative of the electrical detection threshold.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/713,487, filed on Dec. 13, 2019, which claims benefit of French Application No. 1872944 filed Dec. 14, 2019, the entire disclosure of each of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a device for self-adjusting an electrical threshold for detecting a power failure as well as to a method for determining the electrical threshold for detecting a power failure.

STATE OF THE ART

In the automotive electronic device, it is known to supervise the power consumption of an electric charge. In order to supervise a power excess or a power failure of the electric charge, it is known to control the product of the supply voltage of the charge by the current consumption of the charge in order to evaluate the power consumption. The power consumption of the charge thus calculated is then compared with a maximum power threshold beyond which an electric charge failure can be diagnosed, and/or also with a minimum power threshold below which an electric charge failure can also be diagnosed.

The existing devices require computing power as well as reaction times penalizing the consumption and responsiveness of the existing devices.

It is therefore important to propose a new solution solving this problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, a device for self-adjusting an electrical threshold for detecting an electric power consumption failure of an electric charge, preferably of the charge of a motor vehicle, comprises a plurality of reference signals of increasing values according to a geometric sequence for which the product of two terms of equidistant order at both ends of the sequence equals a maximum reference power (Pref), the plurality of reference signals being representative of the variation of a supply signal of the electric charge; the device further comprises a setpoint signal representative of the supply signal of the electric charge; a framing unit including a plurality of successive intervals of reference signals sequentially bounded by the terms of the geometric sequence of the plurality of reference signals, the device further comprises a measurement signal including the setpoint signal, a plurality of output signals, logic signal processing means configured to assign to a first output signal of the plurality of output signals a binary state of belonging of the setpoint signal to a first interval of reference signals including a first term of the geometric sequence, and at least one electrical switch configured to be controlled by the first output signal and configured to provide a reference signal of the plurality of reference signals of a value of a second term of the geometric sequence, such that the first term and the second term are of equidistant order at both ends of the geometric sequence, the second term being representative of the electrical threshold for detecting an electric power consumption failure of the electric charge.

The logic signal processing means may be configured to assign to the other binary output signals of the plurality of binary output signals a binary state of non-belonging of the setpoint signal to the other intervals of reference signals.

The plurality of reference signals may comprise successive electrical connection nodes of a resistor network in series.

The logic signal processing means may include a plurality of comparators ordered from 1 to N each comprising respectively a reference signal ordered from 1 to N of the plurality of reference signals, each comparator also comprising the setpoint signal, so as to be able to compare the setpoint signal with each reference signal; a plurality of logic devices ordered from 1 to N−1 comprising a plurality of ‘inverter’-type logic gates ordered from 1 to N−1, each input of each ‘inverter’-type logic gate of order 1 to N−1 being respectively electrically connected to the output of each comparator of order 2 to N; and also comprising a plurality of two-input ‘AND’-type logic gates ordered from 1 to N−1, each first input of each two-input ‘AND’-type logic gate ordered from 1 to N−1 being respectively electrically connected to each output of each ‘inverter’-type logic gate ordered from 1 to N−1, each second input of each two-input ‘AND’-type logic gate ordered from 1 to N−1 being respectively electrically connected to each ordered output of each comparator of order 1 to N−1; the plurality of ‘AND’-type logic gates of order 1 to N−1 including respectively the plurality of output signals ordered from 1 to N−1 of the framing unit.

According to the invention, a method for determining an electrical threshold for detecting a failure of electric power consumed by an electric charge, preferably an electric charge of a motor vehicle, comprises the steps of:

determining a maximum reference power (Pref) representative of the maximum allowable power of the electric charge;

providing a plurality of reference signals of increasing values according to a geometric sequence for which the product of two terms of equidistant order at both ends of the sequence equals the maximum reference power (Pref); the plurality of reference signals being representative of the variation of a supply signal of the electric charge;

defining a plurality of successive intervals of reference signals successively bounded by the terms of the geometric sequence of the plurality of reference signals;

providing a setpoint signal representative of the supply signal of the electric charge;

allocating to the setpoint signal a first term of the geometric sequence of an interval of reference signals framing as close as possible the value of the setpoint signal;

allocating to the electrical threshold for detecting a failure of electric power consumed by the electric charge a second term of the geometric sequence of reference signals such that the first term and the second term are of equidistant order at both ends of the sequence.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in light of the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other characteristics, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description, and in light of the appended drawings given by way of non-limiting example and in which:

FIG. 1 represents a block diagram of the device for self-adjusting an electrical threshold for detecting a power failure according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 represents a block diagram of the self-adjusting device according to a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 represents a block diagram of the self-adjusting device according to a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 represents a flowchart of a method for determining an electrical detection threshold according to a first embodiment of the method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to FIG. 1, a device for self-adjusting 10 an electrical threshold for detecting Sth an electric power failure of an electric charge is represented. Preferably, said threshold is a comparison threshold provided to be able to detect an electric power consumption failure of a charge of a motor vehicle.

The self-adjusting device 10 is configured to provide a self-adjusting electrical threshold for detecting an electric power failure based on the variations of a supply signal of the electric charge.

The self-adjusting device 10 comprises a plurality of reference signals SR₁, SR_(N) of increasing values according to a geometric sequence for which the result of the product of any two terms of equidistant order at both ends of the sequence is generally constant. The result of the product of the any two terms of equidistant order at both ends is also equivalent to the product of the ends of the geometric sequence. The particularity of the invention lies in the exploitation of this property specific to the geometric suites. According to the invention, although the terms of the geometric sequence representative of the plurality of reference signals SR₁, SR_(N) are of the same nature, namely representative of an electric current or of an electric voltage, the absolute value of each of two equidistant terms from the ends of the sequence is an image for one of the two terms of the value of a supply voltage of the electric charge, the other term being the image of a supply current of the electric charge, so that the product of the value of the two terms represent an image of a maximum reference power (Pref) representative of the maximum power allowable by the electric charge. The plurality of reference signals SR₁, SR_(N) is therefore an image of the possible variation of a supply signal of the electric charge.

The power supply of an electric charge of a motor vehicle may, for example, in a non-limiting manner, in some cases, vary between 0 Volt, during a power cutoff, up to 18 volts depending on the conditions of use of the vehicle battery. The plurality of reference signals SR₁, SR_(N) is generally an indirect representation of the variations of the battery voltage; in other words, the plurality of reference signals SR₁, SR_(N) comprises reference signals (SR₁, SR_(N)) of values proportional to the values of voltages of the vehicle battery.

In order to supervise the electric power consumed by the electric charge, the self-adjusting device 10 comprises a setpoint signal Sc representative of the supply signal of the electric charge. The setpoint signal Sc can be directly the supply signal of the electric charge, such as the voltage of the vehicle battery or the electric current consumed by the charge on the battery, or an image of the supply signal of the electric charge, such as a reduced value of the voltage of the battery or a reduced value of the electric current consumed by the charge on the battery.

According to FIG. 1, the self-adjusting device 10 comprises a framing unit 12 including as input signals a plurality of successive intervals I₁, I₂, I_(N−1) of the type [SR₁, SR₂[, [SR₂, SR₃[, [SR_(N−1), SR_(N)[successively bounded by the terms of the geometric sequence of the plurality of reference signals SR₁, SR_(N) and also a measurement signal including the setpoint signal Sc. The framing unit 12 is configured to determine an interval I₂ bounded by two successive terms of the geometric sequence, that is to say by two values of the successive reference signals of the type [SR₂, SR₃[, for framing the value of the setpoint signal Sc.

The framing unit 12 also comprises a plurality of binary output signals SS₁, SS_(N−1) and logic signal processing means 14 configured to assign to a first binary output signal SS₂ of the plurality of binary output signals SS₁, SS_(N−1) a binary state of belonging of the setpoint signal Sc to a first interval I₂ of the type [SR₂, SR₃[including a first term of the geometric sequence of a value of the reference signal SR₂ of lower bound of the first interval I₂. A belonging binary state may be a ‘high’ logic level, i.e. a binary value of ‘1’.

The logic signal processing means 14 are also configured to assign to the other binary output signals SS₁, SS₃, SS_(N−1) of the plurality of binary output signals SS₁, SS_(N−1) a binary state of non-belonging of the setpoint signal Sc to the other intervals I₁, I₃, I_(N−1) of the type [SR₁, SR₂[, [SR₃, SR₄, [SR_(N−1), SR_(N)[. A non-belonging binary state may be a ‘low’ logic level, i.e. a binary value of ‘0’.

In other words, each interval I₁, I_(N−1) of the type [SR₁, SR₂[, [SR_(N−1), SR_(N)[cooperates with a determined binary output signal SS₁, SS_(N−1) of the framing unit 12 so that the binary state of each binary output SS₁, SS_(N−1) indicates the belonging or non-belonging of the value of the setpoint signal Sc to a single determined interval I₂ of the type [SR₂, SR₃[. The value of the setpoint signal Sc is representative of the amplitude of the supply signal of the charge.

According to FIG. 1, the self-adjusting device 10 includes a switching unit 16 comprising a plurality of electrical switches EC₁, EC_(N−1) each able to switch a single reference signal SR_(N−1) of the plurality of reference signals SR₁, SR_(N), each reference signal SR₁, SR_(N) being each able to be switched by a single electrical switch EC₂. Each electrical switch EC₁, EC_(N−1) is an element with an input S_(EEC1), S_(EECN−1), an output S_(SEC1), S_(SECN-1) and a control signal S_(cd1), S_(cdN−1) allowing the switching of the input signal S_(EEC1) of the switch on its output S_(SEC1).

According to the embodiment of FIG. 1, one of the electrical switches EC₂ is configured to be controlled by the first binary output signal SS₂ and is configured to provide a reference signal SR_(N−1) of the plurality of reference signals SR₁, SR_(N) of a value of a second term of the geometric sequence of a second interval I_(N−1) of the type [SR_(N−1), SR_(N)[, such that the first term and the second term are of equidistant order at both ends of the geometric sequence, the second term being representative of the electrical threshold for detecting Sth a power failure provided to be able to detect a electric power consumption failure of the electric charge.

In other words, when the first binary output signal SS₂ is in a binary state of the type ‘1’, said first binary output signal SS₂ allows the closure of a single electrical switch EC₂ for switching the second term of the geometric sequence of the second interval I_(N−1) of the type [SR_(N−1), SR_(N)[, such that the result of the product of the first term with the second term represents the maximum reference power representative of the maximum power allowable by the electric charge. The output signal S_(SEC2) of the single electrical switch EC₂ subjected to closure control therefore represents the electrical threshold for detecting Sth a power failure.

The other electrical switches EC₁, EC₃, EC_(N−1) are configured to be controlled by the other binary output signals SS₁, SS₃, SS_(N−1) so that, when these are all in a binary state of non-belonging of the setpoint signal SC to the other intervals I₁, I₃, I_(N−1) of the type [SR₁, SR₂[, [SR₃, SR₄, [SR_(N−1), SR_(N)[, the other electrical switches EC₁, EC₃, EC_(N−1) remain open so that no other reference signal SR_(N), SR_(N−2), SR₂ is switched by the other electrical switches EC₁, EC₃, EC_(N−1).

The advantage of this solution is to be able to monitor a power without needing a voltage/current multiplier in order to compare the calculated power with a predetermined maximum power threshold. The device allows overcoming the complexity of existing solutions by proposing a device that automatically provides an electrical threshold for detecting Sth a power failure representative of the maximum voltage or maximum current that the charge must not exceed based respectively on the supply voltage or current of the charge.

According to one embodiment of the self-adjusting device 10 represented in FIG. 2, the plurality of reference signals SR₃, SR_(N) is a plurality of N reference voltages V₁, V_(N) ordered from 1 to N obtained at each electrical connection node of a network of electrical resistors 18 connected in series. The electrical resistor network 18 is connected at one of its ends to a stabilized voltage V_(s) for supplying the electrical resistor network 18 and at its other end to an electrical ground 20 of the self-adjusting device 10.

In order to obtain a plurality of N reference voltages V₁, V_(N) of increasing values according to a geometric sequence with determined common ratio, the resistor network 18 comprises a plurality of N resistors R₁, R_(N) ordered from 1 to N, for which the resistor values R₂, R_(N) of order 2 to N increase successively at a constant ratio, the resistor R_(N) of order N being connected to the stabilized voltage Vs for supplying the electrical resistor network 18 in series. The value of the resistor R₁ of order 1 connected to the electrical ground 20 is adjusted so that each reference voltage V₁, V_(N), excluding zero voltage of the electrical ground, also increases according to the same constant ratio as the plurality of resistors R₂, R_(N) of order 2 to N.

The plurality of N reference voltages V₁, V_(N) of increasing values defines the plurality of successive intervals I₁, I_(N−1) of the type [V₁, V₂[, [V₂, V₃[, [V_(N−1), V_(N)[successively bounded by the values of reference voltages V₁, V_(N) at the successive electrical connection nodes. The successive intervals I₁, I_(N−1) are ordered from 1 to N−1.

According to this embodiment, there will be considered the N reference voltages V₁, V_(N) of increasing successive values ranging from V₁ to V_(N) as well as the sequence of successive intervals I₁, I_(N−1) of the type semi-open on the right, that is say of the type [V₁, V₂[, [V₂, V₃[ . . . and so on up to the interval of order N−1 of the type [V_(N−1), V_(N)[.

According to the embodiment represented in FIG. 2, the logic signal processing means 14 include a plurality of N−1 comparators C₁, C_(N−1) ordered from 1 to N−1, each comparator C₁, C_(N−1) including a single reference voltage V₁, V_(N−1) from the plurality of reference voltages V₁, V_(N), each of the reference voltages V₁, V_(N−1) being connected to a single comparator C₁. Each reference voltage V₁, V_(N−1) of order 1 to N−1 is connected respectively to the negative bound of each comparator C₁, C_(N−1) of order 1 to N−1. In other words, the reference voltage V₁ of order 1 is connected to the negative bound of the comparator C₁ of order 1, the reference voltage V₂ of order 2 is connected to the negative bound of the comparator C₂ of order 2, and so on up to the reference voltage V_(N−1) of order N−1 connected to the comparator C_(N−1) of order N−1.

According to the embodiment of FIG. 2, the setpoint signal Sc is a setpoint voltage Vc representative of the supply voltage of the electric charge. Each comparator C₁, C_(N−1) is configured to compare the setpoint voltage Vc with its respective reference voltage V₁, V_(N−1) so that only the comparators C₁, C_(N−1) having as reference voltage V₁, V_(N−1) a voltage of amplitude lower than the amplitude of the setpoint voltage Vc can provide at the output of the comparator a ‘high’ logic level, i.e. a binary value of ‘1’. In this case, the other comparators provide at the output of the comparator a ‘low’ logic level, i.e. a binary value of ‘0.

In other words, when the amplitude of the setpoint voltage Vc is greater than a reference voltage V_(M) of any order M from 1 to N−1, the comparators C₁, C_(M) of order 1 to M provide at the output of the comparator a ‘high’ logic level, i.e. a binary value of ‘1’, the comparators C_(M+1), C_(N−1) of order M+1 to N−1 provide at the output of the comparator a ‘low’ logic level, i.e. a binary value of ‘0’.

According to the embodiment represented in FIG. 2, the logic signal processing means 14 include a plurality N−2 of logic devices DL₁, DL_(N−2) ordered from 1 to N−2. Each logic device DL₁, DL_(N−2) of order 1 to N−2 provides a plurality N−2 of binary output signals SS₁, SS_(N−2) of belonging or non-belonging of the setpoint voltage Vc to an interval I₁, I_(N−2) of order 1 to N−2 of the type [V₁, V₂[, [V_(N−2), V_(N−1)[.

The output of the comparator C_(N−1) of order N−1 directly provides a binary output signal SS_(N−1) of order N−1 of belonging or non-belonging of the setpoint voltage to the interval I_(N−1) of order N−1 of the type [V_(N−1), V_(N)[.

It is obvious that the setpoint voltage Vc cannot belong to more than one reference voltage interval I₁. In other words, the setpoint voltage Vc cannot be framed by more than one reference voltage interval I₁.

For this purpose, each logic device DL₁, DL_(N−2) includes an inverter-type logic gate INV₁, INV_(N−2) whose input is electrically connected to the output of the comparator C₂, C_(N−1) of higher order. In other words, the input of the ‘inverter’-type logic gate INV_(M−1) of order M−1 is electrically connected to the output of the comparator C_(M) of order M.

In addition, each logic device DL₁, DL_(N−2) includes a two-input ‘AND’-type logic gate AND₁, AND_(N−2). Each ‘AND’-type logic gate AND₁, AND_(N−2) includes a first input electrically connected to the output of the ‘inverter’-type logic gate INV₁, INV_(N−2) of the same order, the other input of the ‘AND’-type logic gate AND₁, AND_(N−2) being electrically connected to the output of the comparator C₁, C_(N−2) of the same order. In other words, the first input of the ‘AND’-type logic gate AND_(M−1) of order M−1 is electrically connected to the output of the ‘inverter’-type logic gate INV_(M−1) of order M−1, the other input of the ‘AND’-type logic gate AND_(M−1) of order M−1 is electrically connected to the comparator C_(M−1) of order M−1.

According to the arrangement of the plurality of logic devices DL₁, DL_(N−2) of the embodiment of FIG. 2, when the comparators C₁, C_(M) of order 1 to M each provide a comparator output of ‘high’ logic level, the binary outputs SS₁, SS_(M−1) of belonging or non-belonging of the setpoint voltage Vc to an interval I₁, I_(M−1) of order 1 to M−1 of reference signals are then in a ‘low’ logic state, meaning the non-belonging of the setpoint voltage Vc to the successive intervals I₁, I_(M−1) of order 1 to M−1. Indeed, the ‘inverter’-type logic gates INV₁, INV_(M−1) of order 1 to M−1 set a ‘low’ logic state to the first input of each ‘AND’-type logic gate AND₁, AND_(M−1) of order 1 to M−1.

In this case, the comparator C_(M+1) of order M+1 provides a low logic level at the input of the ‘inverter’-type logic gate INV_(M) of order M, so that the first input of the ‘AND’-type logic gate AND_(M) of order M is in a ‘high’ logic state.

In this case, only the binary output SS_(M) of order M of belonging or non-belonging of the setpoint voltage Vc to an interval I_(M) of order M of reference voltages is in a ‘high’ state, meaning the belonging of the setpoint voltage Vc to the single interval I_(M) of order M.

According to the embodiment represented in FIG. 2, the self-adjusting device 10 includes a plurality N−1 of electrical switches SW₁, SW_(N−1) ordered from 1 to N−1. Each electrical switch SW₁, SW_(N−1) of order 1 to N−1 is respectively controlled by a binary output signal SS₁, SS_(N−1) of belonging or non-belonging of the setpoint voltage Vc to an interval I₁, I_(N−1) of order 1 to N−1 of reference signals. Each electrical switch SW₁, SW_(N−1) is in a closed or on state when its control signal is in a ‘high’ logic state. In other words, an electrical switch SW_(M) of any order M is configured to switch an electrical signal present on its input toward its output when its control signal is a binary output SS_(M) of a logic device DL_(M) of order M indicating the belonging of the setpoint voltage to an interval I_(M) of order M of reference signals.

Conversely, each electrical switch SW₁, SW_(N−1) is in an open or off state when its control signal is in a ‘low’ logic state so that a signal present on the input of the electrical switch SW₁, SW_(N−1) is not switched at the output of the electrical switch SW₁, SW_(N−1).

According to the description of the plurality of logic devices DL₁, DL_(N−2), not more than one electrical switch SW₁ can be subjected to closure control since a single binary output SS₁ of belonging or non-belonging of the setpoint voltage Vc to an interval I₁ of reference signals can be in a ‘high’ state, meaning the belonging of the setpoint voltage Vc to a single reference voltage interval I₁.

According to the embodiment of FIG. 2, all the outputs of the plurality of electrical switches SW₁, SW_(N−1) are electrically connected together so as to form the electrical threshold for detecting Sth the electric power failure consumed by the electric charge. For this purpose, the electrical threshold for detecting Sth the electric power failure is therefore the input signal of the electrical switch SW₁ subjected to closure control.

Indeed, according to the embodiment of FIG. 2, each input of each electrical switch SW₁, SW_(N−1) of order 1 to N−1 is electrically connected respectively to a reference voltage of order N to 2; each electrical switch SW₁, SW_(N−1) of order 1 to N−1 being respectively controlled by a binary output SS₁, SS_(N−1) of order 1 to N−1, of belonging or non-belonging of the setpoint voltage Vc to an interval I₁, I_(N−1) of order 1 to N−1.

In other words, the input signal of the electrical switch SW_(N−1) of order N−1 is electrically connected to the reference voltage V2 of order 2; the input signal of the electrical switch SW_(N−2) of order N−2 is electrically connected to the reference voltage V₃ of order 3, and so on up to the input signal of the electrical switch of order 2 electrically connected to the reference voltage V_(n-1) of order N−1, and finally up to the input signal of the electrical switch SW₁ of order 1 electrically connected to the reference voltage V_(N) of order N.

According to this arrangement, by virtue of the mathematical properties of the geometric sequence formed by the plurality N of the reference voltages V₁, V_(N), the product of the value of the signal switched by the electrical switch SW₁ controlled by the binary output signal SS₁ of the logic device DL₁ indicating the belonging of the setpoint voltage Vc to a reference voltage interval I₁ by the value of the lower bound of said interval I₁ is representative of the maximum reference power representative of the maximum power allowable by the electric charge.

In other words, the threshold for detecting Sth a power failure provided by the self-adjusting device 10 is the value of the reference voltage V_(N−1) of a first term of the geometric sequence of the plurality of reference voltages V₁, V_(N) such that this first term and the second term of the geometric sequence representative of the lower bound of the interval I₂ of belonging of the setpoint voltage V_(c) are terms equidistant from the ends of the geometric sequence of the plurality of reference voltages V₁, V_(N).

According to the particular embodiment of FIG. 3, the resistor network 18 may comprise 24 resistors R₁, R₂₄ for which the theoretical value of the resistor R2 of order 2 is equal to 123.74 Ohm, and for which the constant ratio between two resistors R2, R3 of successive order of 2 to 24 is equal to 1.1 so that the value of the resistor R₂₄ of order 24 is equal to 1000 Ohm. The theoretical value of the resistor R₁ of order 1 can be adjusted to 1242 Ohm so that the stabilized supply voltage Vs at the voltage node of order 24 decreases according to the ratio of constant order 1.1 successively up to the node of order 1, that is to say the electrical connection node between the resistor R₁ of order 1 and the resistor R₂ of order 2. The advantage of this particular embodiment lies in the fact that the values of the resistors R2, R24 of order 2 to 24 can generally correspond in practice to the successive standardized values of the resistors of the series E24, the value of the resistor R₁ of order 1 can also generally correspond to a standardized value of a resistor of the series E24.

For this particular non-limiting example, by having for example a stabilized voltage Vs for supplying the resistor network of 3 volts, the reference voltage V₂₄ of order 24 will be 3 volts, the reference voltage V₂₃ of order 23 will be equal to 2.73 volts and so on, the reference voltage V₂ of order 2 will be equal to 0.37 Volt and finally the reference voltage V₁ of order 1 will be equal to 0.34 volt.

According to this example, it is possible to deduce the 23 successive intervals I₁, I₂₃ of reference voltages, such as for example, the two first intervals: I₁[0.34 Volt, 0.37 Volt[and I₂[0.37 Volt, 0.41 Volt [and the last interval I₂₃[2.73 Volts, 3 Volts[.

According to this example, the result of the product of two equidistant order terms at both ends of the geometric sequence formed by the reference voltages, that is to say for example, the product of the reference voltage V₂₄ of order 24 with the reference voltage V₁ of order 1, as well as the product of the reference voltage V₂₃ of order 23 with the reference voltage V₂ of order 2, or the product of the reference voltage V₁₃ of order 13 with the reference voltage V₁₂ of order 12, is of order 1.

According to this example, the plurality of the reference voltages V₁, V₂₄ is therefore dimensioned so that the self-adjusting device 10 allows monitoring at least one electrical device, such as a vehicle electric charge, that must not consume a maximum power greater than 1 Watt, the maximum power being the reference power defined by the self-adjusting device 10.

According to FIG. 3, the setpoint voltage Vc is an electric voltage that can vary from 0 Volt to 3 Volts. This setpoint voltage Vc can be an image of the battery voltage. According to this example, a device for reducing a factor 6 of the battery voltage allows the self-adjusting device 10 to have a reduced voltage of the battery as a setpoint voltage Vc.

According to this example, the self-adjusting device 10 comprises 24 comparators C₁, C₂₄ ordered from 1 to 24. Each comparator C₁, C₂₄ comprises respectively on its negative input bound a reference voltage V₁, V₂₄ of order 1 to 24. In other words, the comparator C₁ of order 1 comprises a reference voltage V₁ on its negative bound of 0.34 Volt, the comparator C₂ of order 2 comprises a reference voltage V₂ on its negative bound of 0.37 Volt, and so on up to the comparator C₂₃ of order 23 comprising a reference voltage V₂₃ of 2.73 volts, the comparator C₂₄ of order 24 comprising as reference voltage V₂₄ the stabilized voltage Vs for supplying the resistor network 18 namely 3 volts.

The comparator C₂₄ of order 24, not present in the embodiment of FIG. 2, is an option for managing the overvoltage situations beyond the maximum estimated voltage of the battery voltage. This comparator does not question the operation of the self-adjusting device 10 as described according to FIG. 2.

According to FIG. 3, in the case of a setpoint voltage Vc of 1.0 Volt, all the comparators C₁, C₁₂ having a reference voltage V₁, V₁₂ less than 1.0 Volt provide at the output of the comparator C₁, C₁₂ a ‘high’ logic level, i.e. a binary value of ‘1’, the comparators C₁₃, C₂₄ having a reference voltage greater than 1.0 Volt provide at the output of the comparator C₁₃, C₂₄ a ‘low’ logic level, i.e. a binary value of ‘0’. According to this example, the comparators C₁, C₁₂ of order 1 to 12 provide at the output of the comparator C₁, C₁₂ a high logic level, the comparators C₁₃, C₂₄ of order 17 to 24 provide at the output of the comparator a low logic level.

According to FIG. 3, the self-adjusting device 10 comprises 23 logic devices ordered from 1 to 23.

Each of the 23 logic devices includes an ‘inverter’-type logic gate INV₁, INV₂₃ ordered from 1 to 23. According to a setpoint voltage Vc of 1.0 Volt, the input signal of each ‘inverter’-type logic gate INV₁₂, INV₂₃ of order 12 to 23 is a ‘low’ logic level, i.e. a binary value of ‘0’ provided respectively by the comparators C₁₃, C₂₄ of order 13 to 24. A contrario, the input of each ‘inverter’-type logic gate INV₁, INV₁₁ of order 1 to 11 is a ‘high’ logic level, i.e. a binary value of ‘1’ provided respectively by the comparators C₂, C₁₂ of order 2 to 12.

Each of the 23 logic devices includes an ‘AND’-type logic gate AND₁, AND₂₃ ordered from 1 to 23. Each of the ‘AND’-type logic gates AND₁, AND₂₃ of order 1 to 23 comprises a first input electrically connected respectively to the output of each of the ‘inverter’— type logic gates INV₁, INV₂₃ of order 1 to 23. Each of the ‘AND’-type logic gates AND₁, AND₂₃ of order 1 to 23 comprises a second input electrically connected respectively to the output of each of the comparators C₁, C₂₃ of order 1 to 23.

According to the setpoint voltage Vc of 1.0 Volt, each of the ‘AND’-type logic gates AND₁₃, AND₂₃ of order 13 to 23 provides a binary output SS₁₃, SS₂₃ of non-belonging of the setpoint voltage Vc to the intervals I₁₃, I₂₃ of order 13 to 23, i.e. a binary output SS₁₃, SS₂₃ of ‘low’ logic level, i.e. a binary value of ‘0’. Indeed, the setpoint voltage Vc of 1.0 Volt being lower than the reference voltage V₁₃ of order 13, namely a voltage value of 1.06 Volt, the logic outputs of the comparators C₁₃, C₂₃ of order 13 to 23 provide respectively to each ‘AND’-type logic gate AND₁₃, AND₂₃ of order 13 to 23, their second input signal of ‘low’ logic level, i.e. a binary value of ‘0’.

According to the setpoint voltage Vc of 1.0 Volt, the ‘AND’-type logic gate AND₁₂ of order 12 provides a binary output SS₁₂ of belonging of the setpoint voltage Vc to the interval I₁₂ of order 12, i.e. a binary output SS₁₂ of ‘high’ logic level of binary value equal to ‘1’ since the value of the setpoint voltage Vc of 1.0 Volt is framed by the interval I₁₂ of order 12 bounded by the reference voltage V₁₂ of order 12 and the reference voltage V₁₂ of order 13 namely the interval semi-open on the right [0.96 Volt, 1.6 Volt[.

Indeed, since the setpoint voltage Vc of 1.0 Volt is greater than the low reference voltage V₁₂ of the interval I₁₂ of order 12, namely a voltage value of 0.96 Volt, the comparator C₁₂ of order 12 provides to the second input of the ‘AND’-type logic gate AND₁₂ of order 12 a ‘high’ logic level, i.e. a binary value of ‘1’. Since the first input of the ‘AND’-type logic gate AND₁₂ of order 12 is connected to the output of the ‘inverter’-type logic gate INV₁₂ of order 12, since said ‘inverter’-type logic gate INV₁₂ of order 12 has as input signal the output of the comparator C₁₃ of order 13, i.e. a ‘low’ logic level, because the setpoint voltage Vc has a value lower than the reference voltage V₁₃ of the comparator of order 13, then the first input of the ‘AND’-type logic gate AND₁₂ of order 12 has a ‘high’ logic level, i.e. a binary value of ‘1’.

The two inputs of the ‘AND’-type logic gate AND₁₂ of order 12 having a ‘high’ logic level, i.e. a binary value of ‘1’, said ‘AND’-type logic gate AND₁₂ of order 12 provides to the self-adjusting device 10 a binary output SS₁₂ of order 12 of belonging of the setpoint voltage Vc to the interval I₁₂ of order 12, i.e. a binary output SS₁₂ of ‘high’ logic level, i.e. a binary value of ‘1’.

According to the setpoint signal of 1.0 Volt, each ‘AND’-type logic gate AND₁, AND₁₁ of order 1 to 11 provides a binary output SS₁, SS₁₁ of non-belonging of the setpoint voltage Vc to the intervals I₁, I₁₁ of order 1 to 11, i.e. a binary output SS₁, SS₁₁ of ‘low’ logic level, i.e. a binary value of ‘0’, since the setpoint signal of 1.0 Volt is not framed by any interval I₁, I₁₁ of order 1 to 11; namely the first interval I₁ of the type semi-open on the right [0.34 Volt, 0.37 Volt], the second consecutive interval I₂ [0.37 Volt, 0.41 Volt[and so on up to the eleventh interval I₁₁ bounded by the reference voltage V₁₁ of order 11 and the reference voltage V₁₂ of order 12, namely the interval semi-open on the right [0.87 Volt, 0.96 Volt[.

Indeed, each comparator C₂, C₁₂ of order 2 to 12, respectively provides to each ‘inverter’-type logic gate INV₁, INV₁₁ of order 1 to 11, an input signal of ‘high’ logic level, i.e. a binary value of ‘1’. Indeed, the value of the reference voltage V₂, V₁₂ of each comparator of order 2 to 12 is less than the value of the setpoint voltage Vc. For example, the reference voltage V₁₂ of the comparator C₁₂ of order 12 is equal to 0.96 Volt. As a result, each first input of each ‘AND’-type logic gate AND₁, AND₁₁ of order 1 to 11 has a ‘low’ logic level, i.e. a binary value of ‘0’. As a result, each ‘AND’-type logic gate AND₁, AND₁₁ of order 1 to 11 provides a binary output SS₁, SS₁₁ of non-belonging of the setpoint voltage Vc of a value equal to 1.0 Volt to the intervals I₁, I₁₁ of order 1 to 11.

According to the setpoint voltage of a value equal to 1.0 Volt, only the binary output signal SS₁₂ of order 12 of the logic signal processing means 14 provides a signal of belonging of the setpoint voltage Vc to an interval I₁₂ of reference voltages, namely the belonging of the setpoint voltage Vc of 1.0 Volt to the interval I₁₂ of order 12, namely the interval I₁₂ semi-open on the right [0.96 Volt, 1.06 Volt[.

According to FIG. 3, the self-adjusting device 10 of the electrical detection threshold Sth includes 24 electrical switches SW₁, SW₂₄ ordered from 1 to 24. Each electrical switch SW₁, SW₂₃ of order 1 to 23 is respectively controlled by the binary output SS₁, SS₂₃ of belonging or non-belonging of the setpoint voltage Vc to a determined interval I₁, I₂₃, the binary outputs SS₁, SS₂₃ being respectively the outputs of the ‘AND’-type logic gate AND₁, AND₂₃ of order 1 to 23. The electrical switch SW₂₄ of order 24 is controlled directly by the output of the comparator C₂₄ of order 24.

The outputs of the electrical switches SW₁, SW₂₄ of order 1 to 24 are connected together and provide the electrical threshold for detecting Sth an electric power failure. For this purpose, each of the 24 electrical switches SW₁, SW₂₄ is subjected to closure control when its control signal is in a ‘high’ logic state. In this case no more than a single electrical switch SW₁₂ is subjected to closure control since no more than a single binary output SS₁₂ of belonging or non-belonging of the setpoint voltage Vc to an interval I₁₂ of reference voltages can assume a belonging state, i.e. a ‘high’ logic state.

According to the setpoint voltage Vc of a value equal to 1.0 Volt, only the binary output signal SS₁₂ of order 12 of the logic signal processing means 14 provides a signal of belonging of the setpoint voltage Vc to the interval I₁₂ of order 12. As a result, only the electrical switch SW₁₂ of order 12 is switched on or closed, so that the input signal of the electrical switch SW₁₂ of order 12 is switched on the output of the electrical switch SW₁₂ of order 12.

According to the embodiment of FIG. 3, each input of each electrical switch SW₁, SW₂₄ of order 1 to 24 is electrically connected respectively to a reference voltage V₂₄, V₁ of opposite order 24 to 1. In other words, the input of the electrical switch of order 1 is connected to the reference voltage of order 24, the input of the electrical switch SW₁ of order 1 is connected to the reference voltage V₂₄ of order 24, and so on up to the input of the electrical switch SW₂₄ of order 24 connected to the reference voltage of order 1, so that the product of the reference voltage of each comparator C₁, C₂₄ of order 1 to 24 by respectively each reference voltage V₂₄, V₁ of the input signal of each electrical switch SW₁, SW₂₄ of order 1 to 24 is constant and representative of the maximum reference power (Pref), namely 1 Watt.

According to FIG. 3, the setpoint voltage of a value equal to 1.0 Volt belongs to the interval I₁₂ of reference voltage of order 12 bounded by the reference voltage V₁₂ of order 12 of a value equal to 0.96 Volt and by the reference voltage V₁₃ of order 13 of a value equal to 1.06 Volt. The lower bound of the interval I₁₂ of order 12 is the reference voltage V₁₂ of the comparator C₁₂ of order 12. The input signal of the electrical switch SW₁₂ of order 12 is therefore connected to the reference voltage V₁₃ of order 13. The order of the reference voltage V₁₃ of the input signal of the switch SW₁₂ of order 12 and the order of the reference voltage V₁₂ of the comparator C₁₂ of order 12 are two terms of the geometric sequence of the plurality of reference voltages equidistant from the ends of the sequence of order 24. Indeed, the reference voltage V₁₂ of order 12 is at a distance of 12 from the reference voltage V₂₄ of order 24, the reference voltage V₂₄ of order 24 representing the upper end of the geometric sequence, the reference voltage V₁₃ of order 13 being at a distance of 12 from the reference voltage V₁ of order 1, the reference voltage V₁ of order 1 representing the low end of the geometric sequence.

Consequently, according to the setpoint voltage of a value equal to 1.0 Volt, the electrical switch SW₁₂ of order 12 provides an electrical threshold for detecting Sth an electric power failure of absolute value equivalent to the reference voltage V₁₃ of order 13, namely 1.06. The product of the reference voltage V₁₂ of order 12, corresponding to a first term of the geometric sequence, by the reference voltage V₁₃ of order 13 representing a second term of the geometric sequence is therefore 0.96×1.06, namely a value equal to 1.0 comparable to the predetermined maximum reference power of 1 W.

According to the embodiments of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the invention also comprises a method for determining 100 an electrical threshold for detecting Sth an electric power failure consumed by an electric charge, preferably an electric charge of a motor vehicle. The method 100 comprises a first step of determining 110 the maximum reference power (Pref) representative of the allowable maximum power of the electric charge. The step of determining 110 the maximum reference power allows dimensioning the geometric sequence of reference signals such that the product of two terms equidistant from the ends of the geometric sequence is equivalent to the reference power.

A second step 120 of the method 100 consists in providing a plurality of reference signals SR₁, SR_(N) of increasing values according to a geometric sequence for which the product of two equidistant order terms at both ends of the sequence equals the maximum reference power (Pref); the plurality of reference signals SR₁, SR_(N) being representative of the variation of a supply signal of the electric charge.

The plurality of reference signals SR₁, SR_(N) allows among others framing a setpoint signal Sc representative of the power supply of the electric charge by two successive values of reference signals SR₁, SR₂ so as to be able to approximate the setpoint signal Sc to a reference signal SR₁.

As a result, the method comprises a third step of defining 130 a plurality of successive intervals I₁, I_(N−1) successively bounded by the terms of the geometric sequence of the plurality of reference signals SR₁, SR_(N) and also a fourth step of providing 140 the setpoint signal Sc representative of the supply signal of the electric charge.

To frame the setpoint signal, the method comprises a fifth step of allocating 150 to the setpoint signal Sc a first term of the geometric sequence of an interval I₁ of reference signals framing as close as possible the value of the setpoint signal Sc.

Finally, in order to be able to provide the electrical threshold for detecting an electric power failure, the method comprises a sixth step of allocating 160 to the electrical threshold for detecting Sth a failure of electric power consumed by the electric charge a second term of the geometric sequence of reference signals such that the first term and the second term are of equidistant order at both ends of the sequence. 

1. A self-adjusting device for generating an electrical threshold for a monitored system, the device comprising: a plurality of reference signals increasing in magnitude according to a geometric sequence; an input signal representative of a voltage or current monitored with respect to the monitored system; a framing unit that compares the input signal to the plurality of reference signals and provides an output indicating the reference signal that is representative of the input signal, wherein the selected reference signal is a first reference signal; and a switching unit that selects one of the plurality of reference signal to provide as the electrical threshold for the monitored system based on the output provided by the framing unit, wherein the selected reference signal is a second reference signal, and wherein the second reference signal and the first reference signal are located equidistantly from respective ends of the geometric sequence.
 2. The self-adjusting device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of reference signal are representative of a range of voltage values associated with the monitored system, wherein the input signal is representative of the monitored voltage associated with the monitored system.
 3. The self-adjusting device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of reference signal are representative of a range of current values associated with the monitored system, wherein the input signal is representative of the monitored current associated with the monitored system.
 4. The self-adjusting device of claim 1, wherein a product of two terms of equidistant order from respective ends of the geometric sequence is representative of a maximum power threshold associated with the monitored system.
 5. The self-adjusting device of claim 1, wherein the framing unit comprises a plurality of comparators utilized to compare the input signal to a plurality of successive intervals of reference signals sequentially bounded by the terms of the geometric sequence of the plurality of reference signals.
 6. The self-adjusting device of claim 5, wherein the output generated by the framing unit identifies the interval of reference signals that bounds the input signal.
 7. The self-adjusting device of claim 6, wherein the output generated by the framing unit includes a plurality of binary output signals, wherein the plurality of binary output signals identify the interval of reference signals that bounds the input signal.
 8. The self-adjusting device of claim 6, wherein the plurality of binary output signals are provided as inputs to the switching unit, wherein the switching unit includes a plurality of switches, wherein the plurality of switches are controlled by the plurality of binary output signals to select one of the plurality of reference signals to provide as the electrical threshold for the monitored system.
 9. The self-adjusting device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of reference signals are generated by a resistor network connected in series between a source voltage and ground.
 10. A method of generating an electrical threshold for a monitored system, the method comprising: comparing a plurality of reference signals to an input signal representative of a voltage or current monitored with respect to the monitored system, wherein the plurality of reference signals increase in magnitude according to a geometric sequence; providing an output indicating the reference signal that is representative of the input signal, wherein the reference signal that is representative of the input signal is a first reference signal; and selecting the electrical threshold from the plurality of reference signals, wherein the electrical threshold is a second reference signal, wherein the first reference signal and the second reference signal are located equidistantly from respective ends of the geometric sequence that comprises the plurality of reference signals.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of reference signal are representative of a range of voltage values associated with the monitored system, wherein the input signal is representative of the monitored voltage associated with the monitored system.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of reference signal are representative of a range of current values associated with the monitored system, wherein the input signal is representative of the monitored current associated with the monitored system.
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein a product of two terms of equidistant order from respective ends of the geometric sequence is representative of a maximum power threshold associated with the monitored system.
 14. A method for determining an electrical threshold for detecting a failure of electric power consumed by an electric charge, the method comprising: determining a maximum reference power representative of the maximum allowable power of the electric charge; providing a plurality of reference signals of increasing values according to a geometric sequence for which the product of two terms of equidistant order at both ends of the geometric sequence equals the maximum reference power, wherein the plurality of reference signals being representative of the variation of a supply signal of an electric charge; defining a plurality of successive intervals of reference signals successively bounded by the terms of the geometric sequence of the plurality of reference signals; providing a setpoint signal representative of the supply signal of the electric charge; allocating to the setpoint signal a first term of the geometric sequence of an interval of reference signals framing as close as possible the value of the setpoint signal; allocating to the electrical threshold for detecting a failure of electric power consumed by the electric charge a second term of the geometric sequence of reference signals such that the first term and the second term are of equidistant order at both ends of the sequence. 